Chapter Summaries

Uchiha Cheng and Toad Boss agreed that Toad Boss would remain his servant while deciding whether to recognize him as master. Meanwhile, Gaara escaped his escorts and entered Rock Lee’s hospital room to attack him, but Uchiha Cheng and his companions arrived and confronted him.

• Uchiha Cheng told Toad Boss that their master-and-servant bond stood, and promised to earn his trust.
• Gaara evaded Temari and Kankuro, disguised himself, and slipped into Konoha Hospital to find Rock Lee.
• Sakura visited Rock Lee and left without noticing Gaara entering his room.
• Uchiha Cheng, Shikamaru, and Naruto arrived as Gaara prepared to attack Rock Lee, and they challenged him.
• Gaara insisted he would fight, then began explaining that he had never wanted to become the person they hated.

Uchiha Cheng and Shikamaru drove Gaara away after he bewitched Naruto, then helped Naruto recover and encouraged him through his doubts before the third exam. The chapter ended as Uchiha Cheng’s first match began against Li Zhi, last year’s strongest rookie.

• Gaara used his words to bewitch Naruto, but Uchiha Cheng resisted and stopped Naruto from letting Gaara leave.
• Uchiha Cheng and Shikamaru fought Gaara and drove him away, then woke Naruto and explained what had happened.
• Naruto felt inadequate beside his friends and trained hard in preparation for the exam.
• The day before the third exam, Uchiha Cheng noticed Naruto was distracted and encouraged him to believe in himself.
• Naruto regained confidence, and the third exam began with Uchiha Cheng facing Li Zhi.

Uchiha Cheng faced Neji in his first match, while Naruto, Hinata, and the others watched and cheered him on. Cheng attacked first but struggled against Neji, who struck his chest and disabled his left arm, leaving the match unresolved.

• Naruto, Hinata, Sakura, and the others encouraged Uchiha Cheng before his match against Neji began.
• The spectators doubted Cheng because Neji had been known as last year's strongest rookie, but Naruto and Hinata believed in him.
• Uchiha Cheng surprised the crowd by launching a frontal attack on Neji instead of waiting defensively.
• Neji proved superior in close combat and struck Uchiha Cheng in the chest.
• Neji hit a point on Cheng's left shoulder, leaving his left arm unable to move as the spectators argued and watched.

Uchiha Cheng struggled against his mental opponent, whose attacks and Double Shadow Clone Technique left him at a disadvantage, while his friends watched and encouraged him. He refused to give up, driven by his training, his friends’ faith, and the knowledge that his opponent had once tried to kill Hinata.

• Uchiha Cheng planned to use the Double Shadow Clone Technique, but his opponent used it first and confused his vision.
• Sakura, Hinata, and Minato Namikaze discussed how badly the fight was going, while Naruto and the others said they believed Uchiha Cheng would keep fighting.
• Uchiha Cheng reminded himself that he could not surrender before reaching the end, despite being unable to block or damage his opponent.
• Naruto, Sakura, Hinata, Second Pillar, and Chu Tian voiced their trust in Uchiha Cheng and urged one another to keep watching.
• Uchiha Cheng recalled that his opponent had once tried to kill Hinata, and the onlookers wondered why he held onto that matter and seemed to hate his opponent.

Uchiha Cheng endured Neji’s attacks even after all sixty-four of his Chakra points were sealed, then seized an opening and defeated him. His friends celebrated his victory while Neji went to rest and discovered a scroll left by his father.

• Minato Namikaze, Second Pillar, and Sakura questioned Naruto about Uchiha Cheng’s unusual persistence, and Naruto began to explain.
• Neji grew frustrated when Uchiha Cheng refused to surrender and challenged him to keep fighting.
• Neji sealed Uchiha Cheng’s sixty-four Chakra points, but Uchiha Cheng continued dodging and waiting for an opening.
• Uchiha Cheng took advantage of Neji’s moment of carelessness and defeated him, earning cheers and the respect of spectators.
• Sakura and Minato Namikaze congratulated Uchiha Cheng, who admitted how exhausted he had been, while Neji went to the lounge and found his father’s scroll.

Neji learned the truth about his father's sacrifice from the scroll and chose to forgive the clan and set a new goal. When the Chunin Exams rearranged the match schedule and Shikamaru lost heart over facing Temari sooner than expected, Uchiha Cheng forced him into the arena, leaving Temari furious at his apparent cowardice.

• Uchiha Cheng thanked his friends for supporting him after his victory.
• Neji read his father's scroll, understood why his father had sacrificed himself, and decided to forgive the clan and become stronger.
• Neji apologized for his past actions, and Uchiha Cheng and Sakura encouraged him to move forward.
• The Chunin Exam match order changed, moving Shikamaru and Temari's match up to the second round and frustrating them both.
• Uchiha Cheng tried to persuade Shikamaru to compete, then threw him into the arena when he refused to go.
• Temari watched Shikamaru lie motionless and grew angry, feeling that he no longer took their match seriously.

Shikamaru withdrew from his match against Temari because he refused to fight a woman, drawing criticism from Uchiha Cheng and the spectators. After the competition continued, Gaara’s next opponent, Second Pillar, failed to appear, and the chapter left the crowd wondering where he was.

• Temari attacked Shikamaru and challenged him to keep fighting.
• Shikamaru declared that he would withdraw because he was unwilling to compete against a woman.
• Uchiha Cheng criticized Shikamaru, while spectators discussed his decision and lamented his lost chance to advance.
• Uchiha Cheng eventually accepted that withdrawing was Shikamaru’s own choice and stopped trying to persuade him.
• The next match was announced as Gaara versus Second Pillar, but Second Pillar had not appeared.

Uchiha Cheng and Naruto searched for Second Pillar when he failed to appear for his match, and Uchiha Cheng secured a ten-minute delay. Second Pillar arrived just in time, received Uchiha Cheng’s encouragement, and began fighting Gaara, whose battle left Uchiha Cheng uneasy.

• Naruto and Sakura went to search for Second Pillar after he missed the scheduled match.
• Uchiha Cheng asked the Hokage to postpone the match by ten minutes, and the Hokage agreed.
• Second Pillar arrived at the arena just before the delay expired, and Uchiha Cheng encouraged him to do his best.
• Second Pillar began fighting Gaara and showed a dramatic improvement since the preliminaries.
• Uchiha Cheng noticed that Second Pillar’s attack speed resembled Rock Lee’s after removing his weights, while Gaara’s moves resembled his earlier fight with Rock Lee, and he worried that something was wrong.

Sasuke used Chidori to pierce Gaara’s sand shield after noticing Uchiha Cheng’s hint, but the attack did not secure an advantage and Gaara was injured as the tailed beast within him began to awaken. Meanwhile, Orochimaru’s invasion of Konoha proceeded unnoticed.

• Uchiha Cheng suspected Gaara was hiding his strength, but refused to openly advise Sasuke once their match had begun.
• Gaara formed a sand barrier and prepared a powerful technique while Sasuke looked for a way to break through it.
• Sasuke noticed Uchiha Cheng’s discreet signal and used the Chidori he had learned from Kakashi-sensei.
• Sasuke’s Chidori pierced Gaara’s sand shield, but Gaara remained able to fight and the two exchanged words about competing fairly.
• Orochimaru’s forces continued their covert invasion of Konoha while the audience watched the match.
• Gaara was injured when his sand shield broke apart, and the tailed beast within him began to awaken.

Second Pillar and Gaara continued their fierce match as Orochimaru infiltrated the examination arena, disguised himself as Uchiha Cheng, and took the Hokage hostage. With danger spreading unnoticed, Sakura found Uchiha Cheng and Shikamaru unconscious under genjutsu, and Kakashi-sensei began guiding her to free them.

• Gaara and Second Pillar resumed their battle while Uchiha Cheng worried that Gaara's power was awakening.
• Uchiha Cheng caught and confronted a shadow causing trouble in the examination arena, while Orochimaru entered in disguise and later impersonated Uchiha Cheng to seize the Hokage.
• As chaos spread through the arena, Second Pillar, Naruto, and Sakura noticed Uchiha Cheng was missing and went outside to look for him.
• Sakura found herself alone amid the approaching danger, searched the playground, and discovered Uchiha Cheng and Shikamaru unconscious under genjutsu.
• Kakashi-sensei arrived and instructed Sakura on how to try to dispel the genjutsu.

Sakura dispelled the genjutsu on Uchiha Cheng and Shikamaru, then set out to stop Sasuke’s organization while Kakashi stayed behind. Uchiha Cheng woke and went to find Orochimaru, who fought the Hokage inside a barrier as Konoha’s shinobi watched helplessly.

• Sakura dispelled the genjutsu on Uchiha Cheng and Shikamaru, and Kakashi sent her to stop Second Pillar’s operation.
• Sakura left to stop Second Pillar before his plans began, while Kakashi told her to wait at a designated location afterward.
• Uchiha Cheng woke up, learned that Orochimaru had trapped him in genjutsu, and accepted Kakashi’s assignment to find Orochimaru.
• Uchiha Cheng began searching for Orochimaru, believing Orochimaru’s attack had been meant to draw him out.
• The Hokage broke free of Orochimaru’s restraints and entered Orochimaru’s barrier, where they began fighting.
• Konoha’s shinobi watched from outside the barrier, unable to help the Hokage, and hoped Uchiha Cheng would arrive.

Uchiha Cheng and his team struggled to track Second Pillar while enemies misled them, and Cheng proposed using one teammate as bait. Meanwhile, Orochimaru summoned the First Hokage and the Second Hokage to fight the Third Hokage, leaving Konoha’s defenders worried about the outcome.

• Orochimaru told the Third Hokage that he would summon the First Hokage and the Second Hokage, while the Hokage vowed to resist and protect Konoha.
• People outside the barrier feared the Third Hokage could not defeat the two summoned Hokage.
• Uchiha Cheng’s team discovered their pursuers had avoided Pakkun’s traps and gone in another direction.
• Uchiha Cheng analyzed the situation and explained that his team was at a disadvantage because their enemies were misleading them.
• Uchiha Cheng proposed leaving one teammate behind as bait, and Naruto’s question about who should stay left the group silent.

Uchiha Cheng and his team decided that Shikamaru would lure their pursuer away while Temari secretly laid traps to protect Gaara's escape. Meanwhile, Orochimaru summoned the First Hokage and the Second Hokage to fight the Third Hokage, who was pushed into a desperate position but refused to give up.

• Uchiha Cheng offered to act as bait, but Shikamaru insisted that he go instead because the team needed Uchiha Cheng's leadership and strength.
• Uchiha Cheng accepted Shikamaru's decision and warned him to stay safe and avoid a prolonged fight; Naruto also urged Shikamaru to be careful.
• Temari laid traps along the route to slow anyone pursuing Gaara, though the others did not know what she had done.
• Orochimaru saw that Konoha's people were united and used Impure World Reincarnation to summon the First Hokage and the Second Hokage.
• The First Hokage and the Second Hokage overwhelmed the Third Hokage, who summoned Enma but could not use enough strength to seriously harm them.
• The Third Hokage taunted Orochimaru and declared that he would keep fighting, even if the battle ended with all three of them dead.

Second Pillar caught up with Gaara and Temari, forcing Temari to stay behind and fight while Gaara escaped. Uchiha Cheng, Sakura, and Pakkun searched for Second Pillar and took a detour around another battle, hoping to find him in time.

• Second Pillar caught up with Gaara and Temari after following their trail through Temari's traps.
• Temari urged Gaara to escape and stayed behind to hold off Second Pillar; Gaara reluctantly fled.
• Temari and Second Pillar fought, and Second Pillar used the Substitution Technique to counter her.
• Uchiha Cheng, Sakura, and Pakkun found signs of a battle while searching for Second Pillar and chose a longer route around it.

Second Pillar pursued Gaara and fought him despite his own exhaustion, while Gaara tried to summon the monster within him and provoke Sasuke into losing focus. Gaara’s words briefly unsettled Sasuke, but he remembered Konoha’s teachings and recognized the provocation, leaving their battle unresolved.

• Second Pillar caught up with Gaara after tracking him, and the two began fighting.
• Sasuke pressed on despite his depleted stamina, while Gaara tried to draw on the monster within him.
• Sakura asked Uchiha Cheng how much farther they had to go, and he offered everyone a fifteen-minute rest.
• Gaara taunted Sasuke about Konoha treating him as a weapon and leaving him alone, briefly stirring his doubts.
• Sasuke gathered Chakra, then realized Gaara was exploiting his weakness and resisted the provocation.

Uchiha Cheng and Sakura arrived as the Third Hokage was immobilized by Orochimaru, then joined Second Pillar against Gaara. Sakura took a hit meant for Second Pillar, and her sacrifice shook Gaara by bringing back memories of his painful childhood; the fight remained unresolved.

• As the Third Hokage and Orochimaru's battle neared its end, Orochimaru immobilized the Third Hokage with a Cursed Seal.
• Uchiha Cheng and Sakura followed Second Pillar's aura and arrived in time to help him, while Gaara prepared to attack him.
• Gaara attacked Second Pillar, but Sakura blocked the strike and was injured; Second Pillar and Uchiha Cheng prepared to fight back.
• Sakura's sacrifice and Second Pillar's determination shook Gaara and brought his painful childhood memories to mind.
• Uchiha Cheng condemned Gaara for hurting Sakura, while Gaara remained ready to fight.

Uchiha Cheng confronted the increasingly frenzied Gaara and summoned Toad Boss to protect Second Pillar and Xiao Ying. The fight began with Uchiha Cheng unable to fight back, while Toad Boss guarded his companions.

• Uchiha Cheng blamed Gaara for his friends' injuries, and Gaara taunted him until he agreed to fight.
• Uchiha Cheng told Second Pillar to look after Xiao Ying, then decided to protect both companions from Gaara.
• Uchiha Cheng summoned Toad Boss and asked him to guard Second Pillar and Xiao Ying unless he called for help.
• Uchiha Cheng fought Gaara but was overwhelmed and could not fight back, while Toad Boss stayed with his companions.
• Uchiha Cheng rejoined the battle against Gaara as Toad Boss carefully protected Second Pillar and Xiao Ying.

Uchiha Cheng struggled against Gaara, encouraged by the Toad Boss, and used Double Shadow Clone to get close enough to land Thousand Years of Death. As the battle continued, Cheng realized that strength came from having companions and resolved to keep fighting.

• The Toad Boss encouraged Uchiha Cheng to change his strategy as Gaara kept him from fighting back.
• Uchiha Cheng tried to change tactics, but Gaara struck him before he could act, so he chose Double Shadow Clone instead.
• Uchiha Cheng used Double Shadow Clone to get close to Gaara and hit him with Thousand Years of Death.
• Uchiha Cheng and Gaara traded taunts as the fight continued, while Cheng recognized that he could not win alone.
• The Toad Boss praised Uchiha Cheng, who said his friends made him strong and promised to keep fighting.

Uchiha Cheng and Toad Boss joined forces against Gaara’s guardian, Thousand Cranes, and won after transforming into the Nine-Tails. Meanwhile, the Hokage lost his battle against the First Hokage and Second Hokage, with Orochimaru directing them.

• Uchiha Cheng used a swarm of Double Shadow Clones to attack Gaara, but Thousand Cranes emerged from Gaara and threatened to awaken completely.
• Toad Boss and Uchiha Cheng agreed to restrain Thousand Cranes while trying to wake Gaara.
• Toad Boss and Uchiha Cheng used the Transformation Technique together and unexpectedly transformed into the Nine-Tails.
• Uchiha Cheng and Toad Boss fought the monsters and won, though both were heavily injured.
• The Hokage, overwhelmed by the First Hokage and Second Hokage while Orochimaru directed them, became exhausted and lost the battle.

Konoha learned that the Hokage had died protecting the village, and Uchiha Cheng returned from fighting Gaara to mourn with the survivors. As the village grieved, Uchiha Cheng wondered why people sacrificed themselves for others and concluded that the Hokage had passed on the Will of Fire.

• The villagers discovered the Hokage's body and mourned his death as rain fell over the damaged village.
• Uchiha Cheng and the others returned from their battle with Gaara and learned that the Hokage had sacrificed himself to protect Konoha.
• Naruto comforted Uchiha Cheng, who resolved to pull himself together and help the village despite his grief.
• Uchiha Cheng asked Naruto why people risked their lives for others, then answered that the Hokage had left Konoha the Will of Fire.